Auriemma pans Cuban suggestion of drafting Griner

Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, said Tuesday night that he would consider drafting Griner, the 6-foot-8 senior standout for Baylor whose career ended over the weekend when the Lady Bears lost in the NCAA tournament.

Cuban told reporters that if Griner is the best player available, “I will take her.”

“Right now, I’d lean toward yes, just to see if she can do it,” he said. “You never know unless you give somebody a chance.”

Griner responded with a tweet: “I would hold my own! Lets do it”

Auriemma said Wednesday that Cuban is a financial genius, but “his genius would take a huge hit if he drafted Brittney Griner.”

“I think it would be a sham,” he said. “The fact that a woman could actually play right now in the NBA and compete successfully against the level of play that they have is absolutely ludicrous.”